Nx steel lumber

ABSTRACT

The invention is a cold formed, steel metal C-shaped structural member having an elongated web member with novel opposing angular intervening web extensions with variable exaggerated bends and extending laterally to opposing perpendicular flange members and extending to opposing end stiffening lips parallel to the center web member at the cross sectional ends.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel C-shaped elongate structuralmember, having improved fastening and lateral strength characteristics,and in particular providing load bearing frames, as determined perapplication by professional engineers. This invention is concerned witha structural member that is cold formed from sheet metal wherein therigidity of the frame as a whole results from the angular interveningweb extensions, perpendicular flanges, variable exaggerated bends andstiffening lips of the member. Various metal framing systems have beendeveloped to reduce the cost and labor in the construction of partitionstructures.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Elongate structural members that are cold formed from sheet metal areknown in the art and are formed by rolling, folding and/or pressing ametal strip to achieve a cross section which is essentially either achannel, C-shaped, Z-shaped, or I-shaped members. These prior structuralmembers are defined by a web having flanges projecting from the edges ofthe web and are formed from a steel strip of thin dimension.

Common C-shaped studs may be susceptible to local, torsional, flexural,torsional-flexural, lateral-torsional or distortional buckling. Theresponse performance of the stud depends on a number of parameters suchas how it is supported along its length, including its ends, therelative magnitudes of the applied loads and the distribution of theseloads, the cross-section configuration and the member's materialproperties. In cold-formed/light gauge steel design, two of the commonloading conditions for framing members are a combination of axial andflexural (bending) loads.

Walls in buildings are usually made by erecting a framework of aplurality of spaced vertical beams called “studs” joined together into aunit by an upper horizontal beam and a lower horizontal beam (known as“plates”). The lower plate is an abutment piece that distributes theload of vertical studs. Sheets of wall board are then applied to bothsides of the framework to produce finished wall surfaces.

For flexure of studs, where the studs are attached to the top and bottomplates with fasteners, the studs may be treated as laterally andtorsionally supported at these points of attachment. Where conventionalsheathing (plywood, oriented strand board, or gypsum wallboardsheathing) is attached to the wall stud on both flanges, it is generallyassumed that the sheathing provides lateral support for flexure by wayof the fasteners.

The rising cost of lumber has caused increased interest in fabricatingand constructing buildings with frames of sheet metal constructionmembers. These construction members include roof joists, trusses,exterior walls and interior walls. A common structural design utilizedin such metal frame construction is the C-shaped stud or member, basedupon its cross-section resembling the letter C. Also, the membercomprises a longitudinal web with flanges from the longitudinal edges ofthe web to the same side of the web and flanges being substantiallyparallel to each other and perpendicular to the web.

Such C-shaped members are used as the vertical support members forexterior and interior walls and are positioned at their tops and bottomsin a rail or track which is essentially a C-shaped member positioned ina horizontal configuration with the vertical C-shaped stud positionedwithin the rails and tracks such that the respective flanges of thevertical C-shaped stud and the horizontal track are secured together toform the framework for a wall. The metal studs that are installed attheir ends in floor and ceiling tracks are used to support drywallpanels. The panels are usually secured to the framing studs by adhesiveand/or drywall screws or fasteners.

Supporting metal studs should have good rigidity and withstand thelinear loads perpendicular to the flanges, which arise during mountingand also when subjecting the finished wall to loads. Prior art hassuggested various measures for the reinforcing of supporting elements;however, the market continually requires increased rigid supportingelements, which is the starting point of this invention. There is a needof a supporting element, which has improved strength and rigidity andwhose flanges in particular are reinforced such that they yield towardeach other to a minimal extent when subjected to loads. The newsupporting members need to have improved torsional-flexural andlateral-torsional bracing. It is desirable to have a cold form metalstructural member that is easily fabricated and exhibits exceptionalstructural strength even when fabricated of relatively thin sheet metal.

Also, prior C-shaped metal construction members lack the flexibility ofmultiple fastening surfaces, which limit applications at differentangles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel elongate,cold-formed, metal structural member fabricated out of relatively thinsheet metal that has improved lateral resistance and rigidity. Thisinvention provides for an improved lateral-strength metal constructionmember of a C-shaped configuration, deriving from angular interveningweb extensions and variable exaggerated bends. A further object of thepresent invention is to provide for three fastening surfaces to allowfor change in directions with different applications.

The invention provides for a novel C-shaped metal construction member inwhich angular intervening web extensions and perpendicular flanges withparallel end stiffening lips form opposite to the center longitudinal,elongate web member. The invention provides for a novel C-shaped metalconstruction member with improved lateral resistance for load-bearingsupport as determined per application by a professional engineer. Theinvention provides for variable exaggerated bends to satisfy certainengineering safety requirements. Previous undesired internal stress ofthe supporting element is eliminated or changed by the angularintervening web extensions, perpendicular flanges with variableexaggerated bends and parallel end stiffening lips that provideincreased resistance to tension and compression.

Applicant's C-shaped metal construction member provides for additionalangles of fastening surface for a change of direction of exterior orinterior sheathing application. Typically, the exterior sheathing willconsist of plywood which is normally secured by an approved fastener perdetermined application while the interior wall may consist of gypsumboard or dry wall which may be secured by a threaded fastener or a nail.The member has three fastening surfaces. As an additional application,the member works with existing track because of the member'sconventional size to the existing market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

These and other objects of the present invention will become evidentfrom the following illustrations:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the C-shapedconstruction member.

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional partial side view of FIG. 1 illustratingthe stiffening lips, the variable exaggerated bending and the angularintervening web extensions and parallel flanges by which there isimproved lateral resistance.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of two abutted C-shaped structuralmembers of FIG. 1 along the outside web side as a composite trussvertical beam or a structural component that provides increased lateralresistance.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of two C-shaped structural members ofFIG. 1, facing in opposite directions, abutted along the outside of theparallel lip members as a composite truss vertical beam or a structuralcomponent for increased lateral resistance.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of two C-shaped structural members ofFIG. 1, facing in opposite directions with one member inserted andpressed into a second elongate member, forming a fully enclosed metalchannel, as a composite truss vertical beam or a structural componentfor increased lateral resistance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The structural member illustrated in FIG. 1 would be roll formed fromthin, high tensile, galvanized steel in a structural grade. It can beroll formed by a single passage of an initially flat strip of sheetmetal through a series of stands of forming rolls which successivelymodify the shape of the strip passing through the machines. FIG. 1 is across sectional view of a first embodiment of the C-shaped constructionmember. It comprises a longitudinal, elongate web member 5 having anangular intervening web extension 3 with variable exaggerated bends 4and extending laterally to flange member 2 perpendicular to web member 5and extending to an end wall member I of the flange member 2, in whichthe stiffening lip 1 is formed substantially parallel to web member 5 atthe cross sectional end. The variable exaggerated bends 4, on both sidesof flange member 3, satisfies safety requirements and provides improvedlateral strength. The longitudinal, elongate web member 5, being thecenter portion of the C-shaped design, provides additional fasteningsurface and has an angular intervening web extension 6 with variableexaggerated bends 7 formed along the opposing longitudinal edge of webmember 5 and extending laterally identical to that of web extension 3 onthe opposite longitudinal edge of web member 5 to flange member 8perpendicular to web member 5 and extending to a stiffening lip 9 of theflange member 8, in which the stiffening lip 9 is formed substantiallyparallel to web member 5 at the cross sectional end. The variableexaggerated bends 7 on both sides of web extension 6, satisfiesengineering safety requirements and provides increased lateral strength.

FIG. 2 is a perspective partial end view of a C-shape member of FIG. 1,illustrating the stiffening lips, the variable exaggerated bends, theangular intervening web extensions and the three fastening surfaces.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of abutted C-shaped constructionmembers along the outer longitudinal, elongate web member of FIG. 1 in acomposite truss vertical beam or a structural component combination thatprovides increased lateral resistance.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of two C-shaped structural members ofFIG. 1 abutted along the outside parallel lip of the members as acomposite truss vertical beam or a structural component for increasedlateral resistance. The two elongate channel members, facing oppositely,are secured together with fasteners.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of two C-shaped structural members ofFIG. 1 with one member inserted and pressed into a second elongatemember, forming a fully enclosed metal channel as a composite trussvertical beam or a structural component for increased lateralresistance. The two elongate members, facing oppositely, are securedtogether with fasteners. The overlapping of the members into a channelprovides reinforcing for the continuity of the stress in the studs whena load is applied.

While the present invention has been described with respect to theexemplary embodiments thereof, it will be evident to one of ordinaryskill in the art that many modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is manifestlyintended that the invention be limited only by the claims and theequivalence thereof.

1. A metal structural member comprising: an elongate web member having afirst side and a second side; a pair of angular intervening webextensions in the adjacent corners of the elongate web member, whereinthe angular intervening web extensions having variable exaggerated bendsand extending to opposite parallel flanges that are perpendicular to theelongate web member and terminating with stiffening lip members parallelto the elongate web member forming a structural member of a generallyC-shaped cross section.
 2. The metal structural member in accordancewith claim 1 wherein two structural members can be abutted along theouter longitudinal wall of the members for increased lateral resistance.3. The metal structural member in accordance with claim 1 wherein twostructural members can be abutted along the outside parallel lip as acomposite truss vertical beam or a structural component for increasedlateral resistance.
 4. The metal structural member in accordance withclaim 1 wherein two structural members can be snapped-fit together andoverlapping as a closed channel forming a composite truss vertical beamor a structural component for increased lateral resistance.